Apparatus for herb grinding and related methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to grinding devices for dried plants and herbs. The herb grinder features four tiers for cutting and collecting the dried herbs. The grinder features arced cutters, a tier for collecting the cut herbs and an additional tier for separating the cut herbs from the ultra-fine pollen particles.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A herb grinder comprising:
 a first tier with arced cutters; 
 a second removable tier comprising arced cutters that are in complementary positions to the arced cutters in the first tier and holes; 
 a third tier removably coupled to the second tier opposite the first tier and comprising a cross bar positioned within the third tier and a detachable mesh screen coupled to the cross bar; and, 
 a fourth tier removably coupled to the third tier opposite the second tier and comprising a basin. 
 
     
     
       2. A herb grinder according to  claim 1  wherein the cutters on the first and second tiers have blades on the ends of them. 
     
     
       3. A herb grinder according to  claim 2  further comprising a locking mechanism between the second and third tiers. 
     
     
       4. A herb grinder according to  claim 3  further comprising a locking mechanism between the third and fourth tiers. 
     
     
       5. A herb grinder according to  claim 4  wherein the locking mechanisms consist of a series of four equidistant male threadings and corresponding female threadings approximately one half inch long. 
     
     
       6. A herb grinder according to  claim 1  wherein the first tier comprises a basin on a top surface of the first tier, the basin being sized to hold ground herb therein. 
     
     
       7. A herb grinder according the  claim 6  wherein the basin is semi-circular and approximately ½ cm deep. 
     
     
       8. A herb grinder according to  claim 7 , wherein the arced cutters of the first tier and the arced cutters of the second tier form a cross pattern wherein smaller arcs are toward the center of the grinder and larger arcs are toward the circumference of the grinder. 
     
     
       9. A herb grinder according to  claim 8  constructed from metal. 
     
     
       10. A herb grinder according to  claim 8  constructed from plastic. 
     
     
       11. A herb grinder, comprising:
 a first tier comprising a basin that is at least ½ cm deep on a top surface of the first tier and a plurality of cutters opposite the basin; 
 a second tier removably and rotatably coupled to the first tier and comprising a plurality of cutters positioned complementary to the plurality of cutters of the first tier and a plurality of holes; 
 a third tier removably coupled to the second tier opposite the first tier, the third tier comprising a cross bar extending across an interior channel of the third tier and a detachable mesh screen coupled to and supported by the cross bar; and 
 a fourth tier removably coupled to the third tier opposite the second tier, the fourth tier comprising an interior basin positioned to collect ground herbs that fall through the plurality of holes of the second tier and the mesh screen of the third tier. 
 
     
     
       12. The herb grinder of  claim 11 , wherein the third tier is removably coupled to the second tier with four male threadings positioned equidistant from one another and extending approximately ½ inch around a side perimeter of the third tier, each of the four male threadings configured to engage with one of four corresponding female threadings on the second tier, and wherein the fourth tier is removably coupled to the third tier with four male threadings positioned equidistant from one another and extending approximately ½ inch around a side perimeter of the fourth tier, each of the four male threadings configured to engage with one of four corresponding female threadings on the third tier. 
     
     
       13. The herb grinder of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cutters of the first tier and the plurality of cutters of the second tier each comprise a blade on a tip of the respective cutter. 
     
     
       14. The herb grinder of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cutters of the first tier and the plurality of cutters of the second tier each comprise arced cutters positioned in complementary arc patterns. 
     
     
       15. A herb grinder, comprising:
 a first tier comprising a plurality of cutters; 
 a second tier removably and rotatably coupled to the first tier and comprising a plurality of cutters positioned complementary to the plurality of cutters of the first tier and a plurality of holes; 
 at least a third tier removably coupled to the second tier opposite the first tier, the at least third tier comprising an interior basin positioned to collect ground herbs that fall through the plurality of holes of the second tier, wherein the at least third tier is removably coupled to the second tier with four male threadings positioned equidistant from one another and extending approximately ½ inch around a side perimeter of the third tier, each of the four male threadings configured to engage with one of four corresponding female threadings on the second tier. 
 
     
     
       16. The herb grinder of  claim 15 , wherein the first tier comprises a semi-circular basin on a top surface that is at least ½ cm deep. 
     
     
       17. The herb grinder of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of cutters of the first tier and the plurality of cutters of the second tier each comprise a blade on a tip of the respective cutter. 
     
     
       18. The herb grinder of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of cutters of the first tier and the plurality of cutters of the second tier each comprise arced cutters positioned in complementary arc patterns.